Commitment To The Lord Commitment Needed n n

Commitment To The Lord

Commitment Needed n n “Total commitment” or “personal commitment” used to be very popular among the denominations due to a loss in numbers “Total commitment” was made popular among Christians by the Crossroads Church of Christ leading to unscriptural practices in the 1970 -80’s

Commitment Needed n Commitment is needed when we see… • Falling away • Church fighting • Lack of edification • Lack of evangelism • Lack of benevolence • Attendance problems • Worldliness in the church

Commitment Defined n “Commitment” is simply an agreement or pledge to do something (be something) in the future

Commitment Defined n The house of Stephanas displayed commitment (1 Cor. 16: 15 -16) • “set themselves” (ASV), “devoted themselves” (NASV) • “addicted themselves” (KJV), “devoted…” (NKJV) • “spending their lives” (NLT), “put themselves out” (MSG)

A True Christian… n Is single-minded (1 K. 18: 21; 6: 24; Lk. 9: 23, 57 -62; 2: 46; 2 Cor. 11: 2 -3; Jas. 1: 8) Mt. Ac. n Puts the kingdom first (Mt. 6: 33) n Is all in (Mt. 13: 44 -46) n Loves God with his all (Mk. 12: 30)

A True Christian Is… n n n Is a completely new creature (2 Cor. 5: 17; Col. 3: 8 -10) Is not his own, denies self (Gal. 2: 20; Phil. 1: 21; 1 Cor. 6: 19; 9: 27; 2 Cor. 8: 5) Is willing to die (Rev. 2: 10)

Christianity Demands Total Commitment n n n Commit to the Lord first before other “commitments” A true Christian should not need exhortation to be “totally committed” Coal does not need exhortation to be “black” (coal is carbon and carbon by nature is black)

Christianity Demands Total Commitment n n Snow does not need exhortation to be “white” (snow by nature is white). A true Christian by nature is “totally committed”

Occasions Calling For Commitment When We Are Tempted To… n Lose our love (Rev. 2: 4 -5) n Go after materialism (Rev. 3: 14 -20) n n Be fearful of truth (Jn. 9: 22; 2 Tim. 1: 7) Seek man’s approval (Jn. 5: 44; 12: 42 -43)

Justifying Non-Commitment n Some Christians seek to justify their lack of commitment (Lk. 10: 27 -29)… • “I am often weak and sinful…” • “Where does the Bible say you have to…” • “I am doing enough…” • “The church just isn’t what it should be…”

Justifying Non-Commitment n True, committed Christians… • Acknowledge their imperfections • Pray for knowledge and wisdom • Remain committed to the Lord’s service

Commitment Encouraged Lessons from Joshua n n n God’s people can be encouraged to commit (Josh. 23 -24) God’s people can commit (Josh. 24: 2124) God’s people can commit for a time (Josh. 24: 31; Judg. 2: 6 -7)

Commitment Encouraged Lessons from Joshua n God’s people can lose their commitment as a result of (Judg. 2: 8 -12)… • Following a man only (preachers? elders? parents only? ) • Lack of teaching (sermons? Bible classes? ) Influence of society (t. v. ? music? Internet? friends? )

Total Commitment to the Lord n n n True Christians bear “the old rugged cross, ” not “the old padded cross” True Christians do not attempt to leap the chasm of life in two jumps Half-hearted Christians are not accepted by a whole-hearted Christ